Don't draw legislative district lines to create racial or ethnic districts, such as blacks and
Hispanics, New York State voters say 72 - 21 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released
today. There is strong agreement among all political groups.

Voters also reject 53 - 29 percent drawing legislative districts with an eye to protecting
incumbents. There is strong agreement among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters.

An independent commission with no connection to the State Legislature should draw the
district lines for electing members of the U.S. Congress and the State Legislature, 48 percent of
New York State voters say. Another 28 percent support an independent commission with some
legislative input and 11 percent say the State Legislature should create the districts.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo should veto any redistricting plan not created by an independent
commission, 45 percent say, while 33 percent say Cuomo should not veto such a plan.

"The State Legislature is pushing ahead with its own redistricting plan and there's no
agreement on the design of a so-called independent commission, but a plurality of voters still
think Gov. Andrew Cuomo should veto any plan that isn't independently designed," said
Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Should the lines be drawn to protect incumbents, the way they did it for the legislature
across the river in New Jersey? Absolutely not, New Yorkers say almost 2-1.

"How about protecting minorities, such as blacks and Hispanics? Again, a resounding
'no,' more than 3-1, from voters. Even Democrats, whose candidates are usually the
beneficiaries of racial preferences, are opposed 2-1."

New York State voters approve 65 - 19 percent of the job Gov. Cuomo is doing,
continuing his six-month string of +60 percent approval ratings, with six months of the highest
score of any governor in the seven states surveyed by Quinnipiac University. Voters like Cuomo
63 - 12 percent and like his policies 61 - 25 percent.

Cuomo is "about right" in his handling of public employee unions, 46 percent of voters
say, while 21 percent say he is "too tough" and 20 percent say he is "not tough enough."

New York State public employees are not doing their fair share to ease the state's
financial problems, voters say 53 - 36 percent. Democrats are split 44 - 45 percent, but
Republicans say 64 - 25 percent and independent voters say 55 - 35 percent that public
employees are not doing their fair share. Voters in households with at least one union member
say 50 - 41 percent that public employees are doing their fair share.

"Fair weather or foul, New Yorkers admire their governor. As the sun comes out, Gov.
Andrew Cuomo's job approval numbers are still at the peak he hit after the big storms," Carroll
said. "It's a demographic clean sweep - he scores high in every category.

"Is he too tough on the unions? Some people might have thought so after those layoff
threats. But a lot of voters think he's doing just right and many even think he's too easy."

From October 18 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,540 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor?

23. Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state legislature and Congress are elected - the state legislature or a commission that has no connection to the state legislature or an independent commission with some legislative input?

TREND: Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state legislature and Congress are elected: The state legislature or a commission that has no connection to the state legislature or an independent commission with some legislative input?

25. When legislative district lines are drawn, do you want them drawn so the member of congress, assembly member and state senator who currently represents you are more likely to be reelected, or don't you think helping incumbents should be considered?

26. Some people say that when legislative district lines are drawn there should be a requirement that districts be created for racial and ethnic groups, such as blacks and Hispanics. Do you agree or disagree?